# AIDS --- **AIDS** stands for **Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome** and is life-threatening condition that develops if a person has an uncontrolled [[HIV]] infection. It is incurable (though maybe that's changing), but it can be treated with proper medication like [[highly active antiretroviral therapy|antiretroviral therapy]]. HIV attacks [[T-cells]] (also known as [[helper T-cells#|CD4 cells]]), which weakens the immune system and makes them highly susceptible to [[pathogen|opportunistic infections]] or illness. A healthy individual's T-cell count is typically in the 800-1200 cell per cubic milliliter range. If an individual's T-cell count drops below 200 per cubic milliliter or they develop an opportunistic infection or illness that typically does not affect healthy people. ## AIDS-Defining Conditions **AIDS-defining conditions** are certain opportunistic conditions that affect people with AIDS much much more than we see in healthy people. If an [[HIV|HIV+]] person develops one of these conditions they are considered to have AIDS, even if their CD4 count is still relatively high. - **Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia** or **PJP** (which used to be called **pneumocystis pneumonia** or **PCP**) is the most common AIDS-defining condition. Most people do not get this unless they have AIDS or have some other condition that severely weakens their immune system. This is the disease that filled ICUs during the greatest AIDS surge. - **Treatment** - **TMP-SMX** ([[antibiotics#Examples|trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole]]) (brand names: Bactrim, Septra) - can cause N/V - can make you photosensitive - **Pentamidine** - nephrotoxic - can cause hypotension - can cause hypoglycemia - [[Toxoplasmosis]] is a common parasite, but only a risk if you're immunocompromised or pregnant. It can present with flu-like symptoms, and even cause brain lesions in HIV patients. - **Mycobacterium avium complex** or **MAC** is a thing that's pretty ubiquitous. It's often found in the water, but it doesn't really harm healthy people. - **Kaposi sarcoma** (KS Herpes Virus) - HHV-8 - Cutaneous lesions - Multiple systems with progression - lymph node, Gl tract, lungs - Biopsy to confirm dx - [[cytomegalovirus]] (CMV) (herpes virus, passed through body fluids) - [[Tuberculosis]] (TB) - Oral candidiasis/candida albicans - Chronic Diarrhea (related to HIV infection or enteric pathogens) - wasting syndrome - HIV encephalopathy - Other opportunistic brain infections ___